Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo Buscaglia

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

Originally Posted by hornetguy

When people ask me why I don't "follow" sports, I tell them it's because I cannot watch the self-glorifying actions of professional athletes. It turns my stomach.

I don't know how many of you saw this, but the US women's hockey team beat the team from Canada for the gold in the Olympic games. This was, I believe, a first. Canada has dominated women's hockey, from what I hear.

At the awards ceremony, one of the presenters placed the silver medal around the neck of one of the Canadian players, then moved to the next player in line. The player immediately removed the medal from around her neck... apparently because "she had come to the Olympics to get gold" and was disgusted that she "only" got a silver medal. So she showed her disgust by demonstrating disrespect to the whole Olympic ideal.

Does this bother anyone else, or is it just me? I'm curious to hear what some of our Canadian brothers/sisters think about her action.

Should we excuse disrespectful behavior simply because "they were emotional" ?

You may have heard this in the media, that she was mad she didn’t win, but that was false reporting. Yes, she took off the medal, but it had nothing to do with only wanting gold. She was distraught at the loss, and wasn’t even thinking when she took it off. After all, she is a woman! You know, emotional.

From what I have read, besides the American and Canada women being arch rivals in hockey, they are all very good friends. Because, being an elite woman hockey player is a pretty small field.

Further, I watched the game, hoping for Canada to win. The Canadian announcers noted that the US outplayed Canada, and it was only our goalie that kept us in the game at all. I would agree with that assessment, being a long term hockey mom, and having watched hockey my whole life. Which makes us pretty good sports, generally. We understand the game, and if Canada had won, we would not have deserved it.

The most interesting thing in the game, was any time a woman player hit another player, they were called for “illegal hit!” That’s a real thing! We won’t even get into how we got knocked totally out of the men’s gold medal game by Germany. Thanks for nothing, Gary Bettman. We were not able to put our best players on the team. Neither were other nationalities, but we do have more talent to draw from here, because it is our only sport. In fact, almost no German players play in the NHL, because the DEL (DeutscheEishockeyLiga) is so competitive and the salaries are quite reasonable, unless you are a super star! So Germany had its best players on the ice, Canada did not!

A lot of Canadians have been boycotting the NHL games this winter, to stick it to the money hungry teams. Old style hockey was for the glory of the game, not for people to make huge sums of money off of the masses, and not allowing our best players to play. I wouldn’t have minded if we had lost, and our best players were on the ice. But that amateur squad just didn’t have it, in the men’s hockey.

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Cor. 12:9 NASB

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

Originally Posted by Angela53510

You may have heard this in the media, that she was mad she didn’t win, but that was false reporting. Yes, she took off the medal, but it had nothing to do with only wanting gold. She was distraught at the loss, and wasn’t even thinking when she took it off. After all, she is a woman! You know, emotional.

From what I have read, besides the American and Canada women being arch rivals in hockey, they are all very good friends. Because, being an elite woman hockey player is a pretty small field.

Further, I watched the game, hoping for Canada to win. The Canadian announcers noted that the US outplayed Canada, and it was only our goalie that kept us in the game at all. I would agree with that assessment, being a long term hockey mom, and having watched hockey my whole life. Which makes us pretty good sports, generally. We understand the game, and if Canada had won, we would not have deserved it.

The most interesting thing in the game, was any time a woman player hit another player, they were called for “illegal hit!” That’s a real thing! We won’t even get into how we got knocked totally out of the men’s gold medal game by Germany. Thanks for nothing, Gary Bettman. We were not able to put our best players on the team. Neither were other nationalities, but we do have more talent to draw from here, because it is our only sport. In fact, almost no German players play in the NHL, because the DEL (DeutscheEishockeyLiga) is so competitive and the salaries are quite reasonable, unless you are a super star! So Germany had its best players on the ice, Canada did not!

A lot of Canadians have been boycotting the NHL games this winter, to stick it to the money hungry teams. Old style hockey was for the glory of the game, not for people to make huge sums of money off of the masses, and not allowing our best players to play. I wouldn’t have minded if we had lost, and our best players were on the ice. But that amateur squad just didn’t have it, in the men’s hockey.

Would you say Canada also outplayed the U.S. 4 years ago in the gold medal game when we blew a 2 goal lead in the third periord?

BTW, I agree, people overreact, are reluctant to forgive when a player does something deemed "offensive". Didn't offend me, I found it more funny but at the same time I understood. Sports fans for the most part weren't offended, they basically made means and salty jokes.

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo Buscaglia

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

Originally Posted by Socreta93

Would you say Canada also outplayed the U.S. 4 years ago in the gold medal game when we blew a 2 goal lead in the third periord?

BTW, I agree, people overreact, are reluctant to forgive when a player does something deemed "offensive". Didn't offend me, I found it more funny but at the same time I understood. Sports fans for the most part weren't offended, they basically made means and salty jokes.

I confess, I remember 2010 better, because it was in Vancouver, where we lived for many years. We also knew many of the players, both Canadian and American, because my sons had played major junior with them, and pro!

In the end, a 2 or even 3 goal lead is not enough. Generally the players sit back in their laurels in the third if they are ahead, so it doesn’t take much to outplay the other team. I can’t tell you how many games I’ve watched where that has happened, from minor hockey, summer elite, major junior, university and pro.

I guess the Americans were anticipating that gold a little too soon, lost their edge, another gold for Canada!

Or maybe our players did come back and really outplay the Americans. Or a bit of both!

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Cor. 12:9 NASB

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

Hebrews 13:5 .) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.6 .) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

You may have heard this in the media, that she was mad she didn’t win, but that was false reporting. Yes, she took off the medal, but it had nothing to do with only wanting gold. She was distraught at the loss, and wasn’t even thinking when she took it off. After all, she is a woman! You know, emotional.

That may well be true... but the appearance to all the world was of another "spoiled" professional athlete. Imagine if Lindsey Vonn had immediately jerked off her bronze medal...

I'm not trying to condemn the player... I understand being disappointed. I would have been, too. I just think it was in bad taste, and very likely gave another really bad example to the thousands of young people who look up to those athletes. THEY saw a player who didn't get gold, and wasn't going to wear silver. Perception is reality in situations like this.

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

Originally Posted by oldethennew

is this just another example of 'worshipping' the 'GOLDEN CALF'??? instead???

Rather than seeing everything in the world as evil and tainted by the devil, why not focus with eyes of purity and see things in life as "pure, admirable, and of good report?" Think of it in a lovely way instead. Even Paul the apostle used the sportsmanship of "running a race", "fighting the good fight", and "boxing" as metaphors for training ourselves in self-control and endurance.

To the pure in heart, all things are pure. But those who's hearts are corrupted with evil, nothing is pure. [Titus 1:15]

I didn’t see a temple in the city because the Lord God All-Mighty and the Lamb are its Temple. The city didn’t have need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the Glory of God gave it light; the Lamb is the Light.

Re: Is Sportsmanship an outdated concept?

That's right AuntieAnt. God Stretched out His arms and unrolled the heavens and earth. Gave form to the earth then formed man out of it. Then He formed woman out of man and saw everything was good. I and I believe you do to, see the beauty He gave us everywhere